15 Benefits of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card [2026]

If you fly on Southwest Airlines often, you may be wondering if a Southwest co-branded credit card makes sense to have in your wallet. There are 5 Southwest cards to choose from, but for this post we’ll focus on the benefits of the entry-level option: the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card.

We’ll look through the perks of the Southwest Plus card in detail to help you decide if it’s right for you, or if a different Southwest credit card may be a better fit.

Southwest Plus Card Overview

The entry-level Southwest Plus card has a low annual fee, which means its list of benefits isn’t too long. However, this card could still make sense for some Southwest flyers who are looking for a low-cost way to earn points and get seating benefits or for those who don’t want to pay a large annual fee.

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,040

Annual Fee

$99

APR

19.24% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.

Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.

One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card. This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on the first $5,000 in combined spend at gas stations and grocery stores each anniversary year
• 3,000 anniversary points each year on your card renewal

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines^® purchases
• Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
• Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
• Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Earning Rewards

1. Earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points

One of the biggest benefits of the Southwest Plus card is the ability to earn lots of Rapid Rewards points through your everyday spending.

Here’s a look at how you earn points when making purchases on the card:

• 2x points on Southwest Airlines purchases made directly with the airline (including Southwest gift cards and Getaways by Southwest)
• 2x points on gas and grocery store purchases (up to $5,000 in combined spending per year)
• 1 point per $1 on balance transfers in the first 90 days after account opening (up to $10,000; there’s a balance transfer fee, so this isn’t recommended)
• 1x points on all other purchases

You also earn a welcome bonus offer when applying for the Southwest Plus card and meeting the minimum spending requirement. The bonus changes from time to time, but you can typically expect to earn around 50,000 Rapid Rewards points — although we’ve seen it as high as 100,000 points.

Hot Tip:

The Southwest Plus card has the lowest earning rate for Southwest purchases of any of the Southwest credit cards. If you spend a lot on Southwest flights, you might be better off with a different Southwest card that earns 3x or 4x points on flights with the airline.

2. Anniversary Bonus Points

Southwest Plus cardholders receive 3,000 bonus points each year after their card account anniversary. These points are automatically applied to your Southwest account after you pay your annual fee.

We value Southwest Rapid Rewards points at 1.3 cents each, so this bonus is worth about $39.

3. Southwest Plus Card Referral Bonus

If you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, you may have the ability to refer friends and family to apply for any Southwest credit card. When they are approved, you earn bonus Rapid Rewards points. One of the best parts of this perk is that points earned from referral bonuses count toward Companion Pass qualification.

Flight Perks

4. Free Checked Bag

Southwest recently announced that free checked bags for everyone were a thing of the past. Thankfully, with the Southwest Plus card, you’re still eligible for a free checked bag for you and up to 8 passengers traveling on the same reservation.

A single checked bag can cost $35 each way, so this benefit alone could make having this card worth it.

5. Complimentary Standard Seat

If you have the Southwest Plus card, you can select a complimentary Standard seat within 48 hours of departure, when available. This benefit also applies to up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation. These seats are toward the back of the plane and have standard legroom.

6. Early Boarding

Southwest introduce its new boarding procedures in early 2026. Now, having the Southwest Plus card gives you and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation Group 5 boarding, allowing you earlier access to overhead bin space.

7. Southwest Companion Pass Boost

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best ways to save lots of money on travel. It allows you to bring a companion on every Southwest flight you take for only the cost of taxes and fees ($5.60 each way for a domestic flight) for up to 2 years.

Without the Southwest Plus card, you’d need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to get a Companion Pass. However, Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders get a 10,000-point boost each year, which essentially reduces the required number of points to earn a Companion Pass from 135,000 to 125,000. These points are only good for Companion Pass qualification and aren’t redeemable for travel.

Bottom Line:

Points earned from spending and welcome bonuses on Southwest cards count toward Companion Pass qualification.

8. 10% Promo Code

Cardholders get a 10% off promo code each year on the card’s anniversary. This code can be used to save 10% off of a base fare (not including taxes and fees) and isn’t valid on Basic fares.

9. Save on Inflight Purchases

You save 25% on Southwest inflight purchases, such as drinks and Wi-Fi, by paying with a Southwest Plus card. The discount, which is also extended to any authorized users, comes as a statement credit that should post to your account on the same day as the purchase.

Travel and Shopping Protections

10. Baggage Delay Insurance

Frequent travelers will most likely be affected by a baggage delay at some point. The Southwest Plus card offers reimbursement for basic items like toiletries and clothing when your bags are delayed more than 6 hours by a common carrier (airline, bus, train, or cruise ship). This benefit covers you for a maximum of $100 per day for up to 3 days.

11. Lost Luggage Reimbursement

The Southwest Plus card includes lost luggage reimbursement coverage for both the cardholder and immediate family members. If a common carrier (airline, bus, train, or cruise ship) damages or loses checked or carry-on luggage, you’re eligible for up to $3,000 per passenger.

12. Purchase Protection

The Southwest Plus card offers purchase protection coverage of up to $500 per claim ($50,000 maximum per account) when a new purchase is damaged or stolen within 120 days.

13. Extended Warranty Protection

The extended warranty benefit on the Southwest Plus card adds an additional year to a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty when the original warranty is 3 years or less.

Shopping Perks

14. No Foreign Transaction Fees

The Southwest Plus card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so you can keep it in your wallet without worry when you’re traveling internationally.

15. Access to Chase Offers

Access to Chase Offers comes with any Chase card, including the Southwest Plus card. These are card-linked deals that can save you money on your everyday purchases. Each offer needs to be added to the card prior to making a purchase.

These offers are targeted and include a wide variety of vendors, including discounts on Southwest Airlines purchases.

Final Thoughts

The Southwest Plus card is the entry-level option in the Southwest co-branded card family. While it offers a low annual fee, its list of benefits isn’t as robust as some of the other Southwest cards. However, it could still be a good option for someone looking for a low-cost way to enjoy a few basic Southwest-related perks like a free checked bag and Group 5 boarding.

Travelers who are interested in more comprehensive airline perks or elite status will probably be better off with a different Southwest card.